October 22, 2024 • 27 mins
Utah may have Sundance...but Wichita has Tallgrass! The Tallgrass Film Festival is celebrating 22 years of bringing the best independent films and film-makers to our city. Melanie Addington, Executive Director of the Tallgrass Film Association, tell us all about it. www.tallgrassfilm.org
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Wichita Weekend, the weekly public affairs program from
iHeartRadio Wichita ninety seven, ninety ninety eight. Well O two
won the Bull Channel ninety six three and Ault one
O seven three.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It's almost hard to believe, but the Tallgrass Film Festival
is celebrating its twenty second year right here in Wichita.
This is a gem of an event and it's our
extreme pleasure to have in the studio with us today.
Melanie Addington SE's the executive director for the Tallgrass Film Association.
I had to look on my notes.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I know that's a long titlesoy.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well that's why your business card is eleven inches as well. Right, Well, hey,
this is a very exciting time for you. The Tallgrass
Film Festival is kind of winding down this weekend. Yeah,
but we've got some good news for folks that want
to Maybe that might feel like they've missed it, but
they haven't.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Yeah, there's a couple different ways to still participate. We
are extending our virtual so you can stay on your
couch and still participate. And November one through third, we're
actually going to play the winners on repeat in our
tall Grass Film Center in the lux downtown so you
can you can come get out the next weekend and
still take part.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
So we just have them on a loop.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
No, well, we have.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
A schedule that can buy tickets depending on which winners what.
So we'll know all that by the end of this
weekend and so they can look from the announcement on day.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, for those that don't really know what tall grass
film festivals are.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, that's there.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Let's let's start there from square one.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeah, So which Jown native Tim Groover moved dot La
was working on films and said, Hey, I think Wichitah
should have a film festival, and came out here and
made it happen. And so we are known as the
Stubbornly Independent Film Festival. And we are definitely stubborn. Years
stubborn were finally grown ups, but we're still independent. But
(01:50):
we we show films from all over the world, including
films made here in our own backyard.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
We have lots of great Kansas films being shown this.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Year, so we really we are saying the films that
aren't financed by studios who are people who are raising
the funds themselves and making it themselves.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
So this is yeah, and it's a Jurid competition.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
It is a Jurid competition.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yeah, so there's cash prizes on the line, and yeah,
it's a really great and we do have some fun
films that are just out of competition for anyone to
see and enjoy because we think people should see them,
like the Luther vandro Stock that played Thursday.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
So lots of great stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
So it's a it's something that everyone should be able
to experience at least one film that they'll love, and
we hope that people will jump in and experiment and
try some films that they're not sure and test it out.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
All right now, they're kind of all happening all over town.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Right, Yeah, we're all over downtown. We're at the Orphum,
we're throughout Century two. This year we have our own
film center in the Locks and then we do our
free screenings Friday and Saturday at the Advanced Learning Library.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
All right, Yeah, well, Tall Grass Film Festival. It's it's
really something this community should be greatly proud of. I
think it's I think it's as big as the what's
the one New Mexico?
Speaker 4 (02:59):
You know, Well, there's one in Utah called Sun Dance
that Robert Redford has That's what we're missing is Robert Redford.
I wish we had him, but otherwise, Yeah, this is
our second year being a top twenty five coolest film
festival in the entire world, so which it has something
to be proud of.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Were you there, Melanie when Don Lafontaine.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I was not there that year. I came after that.
But I've heard so many great stories love Don Lafontaine.
I could imagine in your career path. That's quite the person.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah. Well, our listeners that don't know who I'm talking
about any movie trailer in the last fifty years, basically
it's his voice, the guy that says in a worm
and he got that job because whoever was supposed to
do the vo for that movie trailer that day didn't
show up, so the rest was history.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
But that is that is Hollywood history.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
But I'll never forget meeting him. And I think that
was the same year I saw an amazing movie about
Wayman Tisdale. Ye Toby Keith wrote a song after Wayne
Tisdale passed, and that song everybody there wasn't a dry
eye in the house when I was done. And now
that Toby Keith has passed it kind of yeah, remembered that, so,
(04:11):
I mean, you know that's that's from years on past.
But the cool thing is, you guys have so much
to draw from and you get so many submissions. How
many would you say in a year, we get.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Several thousand from all around the world, and then we
paired that down to about one hundred and twenty to
one hundred and fifty.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
This year is about one hundred and twenty eight films.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So it takes a lot of volunteer screeners six months
to watch all of those. Yeah, it's a lot of work.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
How does one become a volunteer screen you asked.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
You let me know, and we will definitely sign you up.
We need you.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You get to know, Melanie Adamson. That would be a
cool sign.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Fun.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
It's a fun volunteering, especially because you can do it
from anywhere. If you want to send the library on
your laptop, you're volunteering. So it's a great way to
do it.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah. All right, Now, are you a movie buff yourself?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah? I love movies, okay, And.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
That's kind of how you came to be associated with
Tall Grass.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
It was I wanted to be a filmmaker and then
I wanted to be a film critic. And then I
decided I needed to have a job that paid me,
so I got into.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
A film festivals.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I know, but I was a journalist for a long time,
did a lot of film criticism, and then ran another
film festival in Oxford, Misissippi for a long time before
I came up here in twenty twenty one. So very
happy to have witch Ties my home.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Now.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Now, did you come to Wichita specifically.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
To rent to the job? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Yeah, I visited in twenty seventeen and loved it. I
fell in love with Roxys and Orphim and all these
cool spaces downtown.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It just morts especially.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Oh yeah, and.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Then I just knew that when the job opened up, like, oh,
this is the place for me. So yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
It does my heart so much.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Yeah, special, even if people from here don't always know that,
it is a very special place.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
So do you have any let's see here, what would
I call it? Any hidden gyms? Are cream puffs among
the among this year's films that you want to give
somebody a sneak preview about.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah, it depends on what your interests are.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
But I can tell you that Shane Kinicki, who has
moved away to Kansas City, longtime media personality here in Wichita.
He worked for years on a film called Startup, and
they finally have it ready for premiere. So there's a
lot of which top faces in it, so that'll be.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
A fun one Startup. Okay.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Yeah, there's a couple other really great Kansas features that
were made locally Arrive Alive as having a world premiere.
But I really love our opening and closing nights. So
Luther Never Too Much is about Luther Vandross. It's a
wonderful film premiered at sun Dance back in January and
then our closing night film Bob Trevino likes. It is
(06:44):
actually going to be in theaters. Lionsgate purchased it from
the independent filmmaker because these things do happen sometimes.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
But it is actually their true life story is based
here in Wichita, and the entire family is going to
be here, So it's going to be really special screening
that only in Wichita can you have this experience. Oh
my god, I really hope people come get to watch
this amazing story. John Lucazamo is starring in it, which
is a very popular face that people know. Oh yeah,
and the filmmaker will be here and all of the family,
(07:10):
so it's just going to be lovely. It's a really
lovely comedy drama.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
In the title again, Bob Trevino likes it.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Bob Trevino likes it.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
And we have tons of other things happening, especially if
I always hear people like, oh, I don't have money.
This year, we have free screenings Friday and Saturday. We
have free panels and education. So if you've always thought, well,
I want to make a film, you can go check
out a panel and learn how to become a filmmaker.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
So lots of great stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Wow. Yeah, and it's all happening right here in Wichita.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Like we say, the live event is going on through Sunday.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Through Sunday, Yeah, and Saturday is celebrating Hattie McDaniel Day.
So her family's never returned to Wichita since they left
when she was a child, no, eighty two years she's
been gone, but her great nephew, Kevin John Goff is here.
He's already been running around the festival and Saturday, the
city is providing a key to the city in honor
(08:06):
of Hattie McDaniel.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
How cool is that?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
So I'm very excited for that.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Oh yeah, okay, well, there's so much going on. I
tell you you've got a website, and we'll talk about
the web address and the URL and let's take a
quick break and when we come back, we'll visit some
more about the super cool and super exciting Tall Brass
Film Festival. With executive director Melanie Addington. This is w
(08:29):
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Speaker 2 (10:40):
We're back on Wichita weekend and we're visiting with Melanie Addington,
executive director of the tall Grass Film Association. I almost
called it society. I guess we could organization the tall
Grass Group. Someday it'll be the Addington Group. We mentioned
in the first half of our show today that while
(11:01):
there are films just sent in from all over the world,
there are also some films that have a particular Wichita connection,
and we were talking during the break about a couple
of them. One of which I'm very interested in, is
called Hope in the Heartland.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Yeah, so as anyone who comes downtown knows or throughout
the community. Now at this point we have a very
large unhoused population. Yes we do, and sometimes it feels
like who is anybody going to do something? Well, the
city is doing something, and they've been working on a
big plan that's going to roll out next year, and
this document will kind of give a real showcas as
(11:44):
to what they've been doing, what the plan is, and
how as an entire community we can get involved. And
it's not just talking heads telling you how to what
the homeless situation is. They actually follow some on house
that live here in Wichita, and they tell their own stories,
and I think it's such a powerful film. Everyone from
the city, the filmmakers, several unhouse people will be on
(12:05):
the stage to talk after the film, and I just
feel like, if you only go to one thing this year,
come join us on that one. Because it's playing twice
Thursday and Sunday. We hope to do another big screening
early twenty twenty five. I didn't realize how much the
city has been very quietly working on a very big plan,
but this film really told me a lot, and I'm
(12:28):
so I'm so excited for kind of what's rolling out.
I think it's really important and I'm just I hope
that everyone responds to it as positively.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
As I have. So it's going to be really important.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
And it's very much just a witch to top film,
and it is absolutely about us, and it's about not
just watching a film, but the best thing that we
love doing is making a social impact, and this film
does that, not just anywhere, not about feeding starving children
somewhere else. It's about making sure our own neighbors are
being taken care of. And I think it's just such
a great example of what we can do. It's a
film festival.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
It's real life. It's real life, yeah, captured on film.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Captured on film, and translated into what we've all felt,
that hopelessness of like how can we help?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Why are there so many more homeless? Why are that?
You know?
Speaker 4 (13:14):
All these things that are happening, and it really delves
into that. So it's powerful.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Well, and anybody, like you say, anybody who comes downtown,
I've been working downtown for the last couple of years,
almost three years, I've really noticed it.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
It's run a lot and your.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Heart just goes out to these folks because where are
they going to go? Right? So that is one locally
written and produced film that you definitely want to check out.
And then there's another one a little more lighthearted, a
little more lighthearted, and that's called Slice of Life.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Yes, if you've ever wondered the old pizza huts, what
happens to them when they no longer become a pizza hut.
People with their deep love of pizza hut and memories,
have turned them into anything from churches to bookstores to
clubs to all over the country, but especially here in Wichita.
(14:10):
These filmmakers documented pizza Hut's journey and their physical actual buildings.
It's such a fun At first, I was worried. I
was like, oh, no, is it making fun of old
Pizza Hut buildings. No, it's talking about because people love
the iconic look of it, the red roof, Yeah, the
whole the Pizza Hut look. People have wanted to keep that,
(14:30):
so they keep the buildings the same and then change
them into other things inside.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
So it's a really whimsical look at Pizza Hut.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
We're very excited that one of the founders of Pizza Hut,
Dan Carney, is going to be there on Sunday for
the screening. So and they've engaged with us for the film.
The filmmakers are excited to have them here. They've interviewed
them for the film. So yeah, it's it's really just
a fun, fun way to sort of see, you know,
what happens to architecture as life changes.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And yeah, well, and of course, you know, the original
Pizza Hut building on display, at which.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Testi Museum folks will be on hand to represent and
remind people they can come toward that space, which is
super cool. My old life, I was a pizza magazine journalist.
So this is definitely the perfect film for me.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Oh yeah, you know, working, I know, the whole.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Things all be done.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I know, Oh, Melanie, how much fun? Is that?
Speaker 3 (15:24):
So exciting? So that's good. That's gonna be a really
fun one.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Okay, a couple of the ones with a local UH player.
I suppose you could say Slice of Life and Life
and Hope in the Heartland. Where could we go online
to get the full list of everything? If we're going,
where do we where do we go next? What do
you want to see?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Mom?
Speaker 4 (15:42):
So the basic, most easy way is just to go
to tallgrassfilm dot org and there links to the print
program schedule, the grid guide, the full online schedule. Most
of what we do we try to be as cashless
as possible, so you can buy a ticket on your
phone and hold up the QR code.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Everything is very easy.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Nice.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
But we actually have a box office starting Thursday at
Century two and it goes through the festival. So if
you just need a little more hands on help or
want to pick up a physical program like I'm holding
in my hand right now, it's nice to have the
paper in front of you. You can do that and
we can help you on site so there's no no limitation.
We will make sure you can get in.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Well, after twenty two years, you guys are getting pretty good.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
We're starting to learn, we're starting to become grown up,
starting to figure figure it out.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
That's awesome. I love it. It's just it's so exciting,
and it's one of those things. I'm a lifelong Wichitan,
so yeah, this is a very very strong point of
pride for me. And also I've enjoyed it so many
It's fun.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
I mean sometimes it really is.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Sometimes being a fun thing is a great way to
remind everyone that life is about a lot of different things,
including joy.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So that's mooting joy.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
And you never know. You might think you're the only
person on the planet interested in this or that topic.
You'd be surprised.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
It's some really fine people that you It's such a
great aa. I love volunteering at film festivals because you
meet people that are your tribe, somebody who wants to
talk about movies as much as you do. You get
to meet filmmakers. Every time I go to a movie,
I'm like, I, I wonder how they did that. Well at
the festival you can actually ask that question and get
it answered, so it's just a great way to connect
with others.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
It is, and it's a great way to get out
of the house. Turn off the little tube, come watch
the big tube, the big screen, and immerse yourself with
some really fine cinema.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Melanie Addington, the executive director for Tall Grass Film Associations,
our guest today on Wichita Weekend. We'll take one more
break to kind of figure out where we are, who
we are, and what we want to say next, and
we'll be right back with you. This is whichd All Weekend.
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Speaker 2 (20:14):
Welcome back to Wichita Weekend, and we're having a wonderful
conversation with our good friend Melanie Addington, the executive director
of Tallgrass Film Association. And Melanie, one thing we didn't
really touch on just yet is Tallgrass Film Festival is
more than just the movies.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Right right, Yeah, The festival part is important, and that
is our parties, which we're pretty famously known for. Yeah,
we've had Tom Middlestat for the past twenty two years
putting together some of the weirdest and most fun parties.
This year we have a partnership with Opera Kansas. They're
doing a pop up opera at our masquerade party on
(20:56):
Friday night, which is very fun. And then Saturday day
we're doing we're celebrating all zombie movies ever made with
a zombie Saturday, asking people to dress up.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Oh maybe if you don't.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
We have makeup artists on hand, we have tattoos. You
can come as a zombie or you can come as
a zombie fighter. There's fun activities. It is a wild,
fun time. So it's it's always worth it to either
buy a party ticket or a full badge and just
do the whole festival rather than just going to a movie.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Get the real experience.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Oh yeah, that's a Halloween hoot and a half. I'm
telling you.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Yeah, we knew going into the Halloween weekend we had
to do something, so we're stepping it up or really
really excited.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
So that'll be a fun time.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Now, I don't want you to give anything away, but
are you planning any kind of disguise yourself, any kind
of costume action? Maybe?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
I haven't decided. I've made my costume choices through Thursday.
Currently have to I.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Have to finish all of my rest of my costumes. Yeah,
we'll see, we'll see what happens.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
So like, how do we find out about all these
cool things happening?
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Yeah, play still on.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
The website teldresfilm dot org and then if you pick
up a print program and also has it in there.
So yeah, there's lots of ways. Now the other thing
on our website that's really important. If you're not into
being at a party, we still need help getting the
parties going, running them, cleaning them up, and so volunteering
is critical. We need hundreds and I do mean we
(22:21):
have a list of about three hundred and fifty volunteers.
Not everyone can help every year, well we need that many.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
To help every year.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
So we still have tons of volunteer opportunities through the weekend.
You could always check out, reach out to one of us,
and we'll put you to work. It's really it's a
great way to We love doing like the decor for
the parties or handing out food. There's a lot of
fun things to do. But also we need help even
on the ground doing like ushers so you scan people
in then you get to watch the movie. So it's
(22:49):
a great way to get in free or just even
just helping in our VIP lounge, getting to talk to filmmakers.
There's lots of great ways toolunteer, and it's a fun
volunteering opportunity.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
And even if you're hearing this right now, it's not
too late.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
It's not too late.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
All the way through Sunday about four pm, we'll still
need people.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yeah, and who knows, if you got involved this year,
you might just get the bug and come back next year.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
It happens.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
We've had volunteers started year one and have never stopped.
They love it. So we definitely we try and keep
our volunteers fed happy, and then we honor them with
awards at the end. So we really we try and
treat them right.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Like I say, after twenty two years, you must be
doing something right.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
We're figuring it out.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Well. That is so exciting. Now, I gotta imagine after
this is a year round, three hundred and sixty five
year job, three hundred and sixty five day a year job.
That's for you, so you like the day after.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Next year already, I mean, I'm doing that now. The
other thing is especially now this year, having virtual run
through November third and having the award winners in person
at our Film center, then we really have another week
of the festival going.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
So we're still sort.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Of on through November three, and then we have films
playing in our cinema starting the next weekend.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
So we just stay busy, we keep going.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Good for you, Yeah, good for you. It's good work
and it's.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Well, it's about community really.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
I mean, yes, it's about watching movies, but we bring
together people.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Yeah, as you mentioned like that.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
You may think you're the only person in the world
that likes something and then you find out twenty other
people love it and you make new friends.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Well, I'll confess one this will be my last story
about past hall.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
No, I love your stories.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Well, when I was about ten or eleven years old,
I took guitar lessons and the lady's house that I
had guitar lessons at her name was Irma Wassel, and
she was just a wonderful, wonderful lady. I'll remember her forever.
But one of the students in that class was a
(24:54):
guy named Stuart Mossman.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
I know that name.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Stuart Mossman graduated the class. He was several years older
than me and went on to become a very distinguished
and well known guitar builder. And Tallgrass had the most
for a geek like me, for a true guitar geek.
(25:20):
This is the best thing I could ever seen. It
was the Stuart Mossmann story and they had it was
at Temple Life and on one of the floors up
above the theater they had a bunch of his Yeah, yeah,
built And I was in guitar geek Kevin and I
can I admit that to you? Oh?
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Absolutely? Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I mean Wichita's history of music is really important.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
And you know, we get people that come here for
the first time ever, have never been to Kansas at all,
never been to Wichita, and like highlighting these special things
about Wichita, like our music scene, the guitars, Haddie McDaniels,
you know, the David Parks and Gordon Parks. All these
things are so critical to like kind of show how
special it is.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yeah. So get to know your community a little bit better,
fall farther in love with Wichita. That's possible. Come on
out to the tall Grass Film Festival. Get all the
info a human could ever require at Tallgrassfilm dot org.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
That's it, yeah, or just at this point, we're there
all the time. If you want to come to the
Film Center and the lux on first Street. We'll just
answer your questions in person.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Okay, you can't beat that. Melanie Addington, executive director for
the Tallgrass Film Association. I could talk to you all day.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
I know, I love it. It's always fun.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Talk about movies and things we want.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
We'll just build in a new radio show for you.
We'll just do it.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I appreciate that. Thank you for the idea. It's my
next chapter. Yes, all right, Melanie, thanks so much for
being with us. Best of luck for a wonderful tall
Grass Film Festival twenty twenty four. It's Witched all weekend.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Thank you for listening to Wichita Weekend a service of
buyingheart radio stations. We'll ow two won the Bull, Channel
nine six, read all one O seven three and ninety
seven nine B ninety eight. Listen every Sunday for Wichita
Weekend
Welcome to Wichita Weekend, the weekly public affairs program from
iHeartRadio Wichita ninety seven, ninety ninety eight. Well O two
won the Bull Channel ninety six three and Ault one
O seven three.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It's almost hard to believe, but the Tallgrass Film Festival
is celebrating its twenty second year right here in Wichita.
This is a gem of an event and it's our
extreme pleasure to have in the studio with us today.
Melanie Addington SE's the executive director for the Tallgrass Film Association.
I had to look on my notes.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I know that's a long titlesoy.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Well that's why your business card is eleven inches as well. Right, Well, hey,
this is a very exciting time for you. The Tallgrass
Film Festival is kind of winding down this weekend. Yeah,
but we've got some good news for folks that want
to Maybe that might feel like they've missed it, but
they haven't.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Yeah, there's a couple different ways to still participate. We
are extending our virtual so you can stay on your
couch and still participate. And November one through third, we're
actually going to play the winners on repeat in our
tall Grass Film Center in the lux downtown so you
can you can come get out the next weekend and
still take part.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
So we just have them on a loop.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
No, well, we have.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
A schedule that can buy tickets depending on which winners what.
So we'll know all that by the end of this
weekend and so they can look from the announcement on day.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Well, for those that don't really know what tall grass
film festivals are.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Yeah, that's there.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Let's let's start there from square one.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeah, So which Jown native Tim Groover moved dot La
was working on films and said, Hey, I think Wichitah
should have a film festival, and came out here and
made it happen. And so we are known as the
Stubbornly Independent Film Festival. And we are definitely stubborn. Years
stubborn were finally grown ups, but we're still independent. But
(01:50):
we we show films from all over the world, including
films made here in our own backyard.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
We have lots of great Kansas films being shown this.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Year, so we really we are saying the films that
aren't financed by studios who are people who are raising
the funds themselves and making it themselves.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
So this is yeah, and it's a Jurid competition.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
It is a Jurid competition.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yeah, so there's cash prizes on the line, and yeah,
it's a really great and we do have some fun
films that are just out of competition for anyone to
see and enjoy because we think people should see them,
like the Luther vandro Stock that played Thursday.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
So lots of great stuff like that.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
So it's a it's something that everyone should be able
to experience at least one film that they'll love, and
we hope that people will jump in and experiment and
try some films that they're not sure and test it out.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
All right now, they're kind of all happening all over town.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Right, Yeah, we're all over downtown. We're at the Orphum,
we're throughout Century two. This year we have our own
film center in the Locks and then we do our
free screenings Friday and Saturday at the Advanced Learning Library.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
All right, Yeah, well, Tall Grass Film Festival. It's it's
really something this community should be greatly proud of. I
think it's I think it's as big as the what's
the one New Mexico?
Speaker 4 (02:59):
You know, Well, there's one in Utah called Sun Dance
that Robert Redford has That's what we're missing is Robert Redford.
I wish we had him, but otherwise, Yeah, this is
our second year being a top twenty five coolest film
festival in the entire world, so which it has something
to be proud of.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Were you there, Melanie when Don Lafontaine.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I was not there that year. I came after that.
But I've heard so many great stories love Don Lafontaine.
I could imagine in your career path. That's quite the person.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah. Well, our listeners that don't know who I'm talking
about any movie trailer in the last fifty years, basically
it's his voice, the guy that says in a worm
and he got that job because whoever was supposed to
do the vo for that movie trailer that day didn't
show up, so the rest was history.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
But that is that is Hollywood history.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
But I'll never forget meeting him. And I think that
was the same year I saw an amazing movie about
Wayman Tisdale. Ye Toby Keith wrote a song after Wayne
Tisdale passed, and that song everybody there wasn't a dry
eye in the house when I was done. And now
that Toby Keith has passed it kind of yeah, remembered that, so,
(04:11):
I mean, you know that's that's from years on past.
But the cool thing is, you guys have so much
to draw from and you get so many submissions. How
many would you say in a year, we get.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Several thousand from all around the world, and then we
paired that down to about one hundred and twenty to
one hundred and fifty.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
This year is about one hundred and twenty eight films.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
So it takes a lot of volunteer screeners six months
to watch all of those. Yeah, it's a lot of work.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
How does one become a volunteer screen you asked.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
You let me know, and we will definitely sign you up.
We need you.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You get to know, Melanie Adamson. That would be a
cool sign.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Fun.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
It's a fun volunteering, especially because you can do it
from anywhere. If you want to send the library on
your laptop, you're volunteering. So it's a great way to
do it.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah. All right, Now, are you a movie buff yourself?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah? I love movies, okay, And.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
That's kind of how you came to be associated with
Tall Grass.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
It was I wanted to be a filmmaker and then
I wanted to be a film critic. And then I
decided I needed to have a job that paid me,
so I got into.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
A film festivals.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
I know, but I was a journalist for a long time,
did a lot of film criticism, and then ran another
film festival in Oxford, Misissippi for a long time before
I came up here in twenty twenty one. So very
happy to have witch Ties my home.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Now.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Now, did you come to Wichita specifically.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
To rent to the job? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Yeah, I visited in twenty seventeen and loved it. I
fell in love with Roxys and Orphim and all these
cool spaces downtown.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It just morts especially.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Oh yeah, and.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Then I just knew that when the job opened up, like, oh,
this is the place for me. So yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
It does my heart so much.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Yeah, special, even if people from here don't always know that,
it is a very special place.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
So do you have any let's see here, what would
I call it? Any hidden gyms? Are cream puffs among
the among this year's films that you want to give
somebody a sneak preview about.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah, it depends on what your interests are.
Speaker 4 (06:07):
But I can tell you that Shane Kinicki, who has
moved away to Kansas City, longtime media personality here in Wichita.
He worked for years on a film called Startup, and
they finally have it ready for premiere. So there's a
lot of which top faces in it, so that'll be.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
A fun one Startup. Okay.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
Yeah, there's a couple other really great Kansas features that
were made locally Arrive Alive as having a world premiere.
But I really love our opening and closing nights. So
Luther Never Too Much is about Luther Vandross. It's a
wonderful film premiered at sun Dance back in January and
then our closing night film Bob Trevino likes. It is
(06:44):
actually going to be in theaters. Lionsgate purchased it from
the independent filmmaker because these things do happen sometimes.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
But it is actually their true life story is based
here in Wichita, and the entire family is going to
be here, So it's going to be really special screening
that only in Wichita can you have this experience. Oh
my god, I really hope people come get to watch
this amazing story. John Lucazamo is starring in it, which
is a very popular face that people know. Oh yeah,
and the filmmaker will be here and all of the family,
(07:10):
so it's just going to be lovely. It's a really
lovely comedy drama.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
In the title again, Bob Trevino likes it.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Bob Trevino likes it.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
And we have tons of other things happening, especially if
I always hear people like, oh, I don't have money.
This year, we have free screenings Friday and Saturday. We
have free panels and education. So if you've always thought, well,
I want to make a film, you can go check
out a panel and learn how to become a filmmaker.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
So lots of great stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Wow. Yeah, and it's all happening right here in Wichita.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Like we say, the live event is going on through Sunday.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Through Sunday, Yeah, and Saturday is celebrating Hattie McDaniel Day.
So her family's never returned to Wichita since they left
when she was a child, no, eighty two years she's
been gone, but her great nephew, Kevin John Goff is here.
He's already been running around the festival and Saturday, the
city is providing a key to the city in honor
(08:06):
of Hattie McDaniel.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
How cool is that?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
So I'm very excited for that.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Oh yeah, okay, well, there's so much going on. I
tell you you've got a website, and we'll talk about
the web address and the URL and let's take a
quick break and when we come back, we'll visit some
more about the super cool and super exciting Tall Brass
Film Festival. With executive director Melanie Addington. This is w
(08:29):
Chita Weekend.
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Speaker 2 (10:40):
We're back on Wichita weekend and we're visiting with Melanie Addington,
executive director of the tall Grass Film Association. I almost
called it society. I guess we could organization the tall
Grass Group. Someday it'll be the Addington Group. We mentioned
in the first half of our show today that while
(11:01):
there are films just sent in from all over the world,
there are also some films that have a particular Wichita connection,
and we were talking during the break about a couple
of them. One of which I'm very interested in, is
called Hope in the Heartland.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Yeah, so as anyone who comes downtown knows or throughout
the community. Now at this point we have a very
large unhoused population. Yes we do, and sometimes it feels
like who is anybody going to do something? Well, the
city is doing something, and they've been working on a
big plan that's going to roll out next year, and
this document will kind of give a real showcas as
(11:44):
to what they've been doing, what the plan is, and
how as an entire community we can get involved. And
it's not just talking heads telling you how to what
the homeless situation is. They actually follow some on house
that live here in Wichita, and they tell their own stories,
and I think it's such a powerful film. Everyone from
the city, the filmmakers, several unhouse people will be on
(12:05):
the stage to talk after the film, and I just
feel like, if you only go to one thing this year,
come join us on that one. Because it's playing twice
Thursday and Sunday. We hope to do another big screening
early twenty twenty five. I didn't realize how much the
city has been very quietly working on a very big plan,
but this film really told me a lot, and I'm
(12:28):
so I'm so excited for kind of what's rolling out.
I think it's really important and I'm just I hope
that everyone responds to it as positively.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
As I have. So it's going to be really important.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
And it's very much just a witch to top film,
and it is absolutely about us, and it's about not
just watching a film, but the best thing that we
love doing is making a social impact, and this film
does that, not just anywhere, not about feeding starving children
somewhere else. It's about making sure our own neighbors are
being taken care of. And I think it's just such
a great example of what we can do. It's a
film festival.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
It's real life. It's real life, yeah, captured on film.
Speaker 4 (13:05):
Captured on film, and translated into what we've all felt,
that hopelessness of like how can we help?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Why are there so many more homeless? Why are that?
You know?
Speaker 4 (13:14):
All these things that are happening, and it really delves
into that. So it's powerful.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Well, and anybody, like you say, anybody who comes downtown,
I've been working downtown for the last couple of years,
almost three years, I've really noticed it.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
It's run a lot and your.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Heart just goes out to these folks because where are
they going to go? Right? So that is one locally
written and produced film that you definitely want to check out.
And then there's another one a little more lighthearted, a
little more lighthearted, and that's called Slice of Life.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Yes, if you've ever wondered the old pizza huts, what
happens to them when they no longer become a pizza hut.
People with their deep love of pizza hut and memories,
have turned them into anything from churches to bookstores to
clubs to all over the country, but especially here in Wichita.
(14:10):
These filmmakers documented pizza Hut's journey and their physical actual buildings.
It's such a fun At first, I was worried. I
was like, oh, no, is it making fun of old
Pizza Hut buildings. No, it's talking about because people love
the iconic look of it, the red roof, Yeah, the
whole the Pizza Hut look. People have wanted to keep that,
(14:30):
so they keep the buildings the same and then change
them into other things inside.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
So it's a really whimsical look at Pizza Hut.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
We're very excited that one of the founders of Pizza Hut,
Dan Carney, is going to be there on Sunday for
the screening. So and they've engaged with us for the film.
The filmmakers are excited to have them here. They've interviewed
them for the film. So yeah, it's it's really just
a fun, fun way to sort of see, you know,
what happens to architecture as life changes.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And yeah, well, and of course, you know, the original
Pizza Hut building on display, at which.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Testi Museum folks will be on hand to represent and
remind people they can come toward that space, which is
super cool. My old life, I was a pizza magazine journalist.
So this is definitely the perfect film for me.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Oh yeah, you know, working, I know, the whole.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Things all be done.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I know, Oh, Melanie, how much fun? Is that?
Speaker 3 (15:24):
So exciting? So that's good. That's gonna be a really
fun one.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Okay, a couple of the ones with a local UH player.
I suppose you could say Slice of Life and Life
and Hope in the Heartland. Where could we go online
to get the full list of everything? If we're going,
where do we where do we go next? What do
you want to see?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Mom?
Speaker 4 (15:42):
So the basic, most easy way is just to go
to tallgrassfilm dot org and there links to the print
program schedule, the grid guide, the full online schedule. Most
of what we do we try to be as cashless
as possible, so you can buy a ticket on your
phone and hold up the QR code.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Everything is very easy.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Nice.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
But we actually have a box office starting Thursday at
Century two and it goes through the festival. So if
you just need a little more hands on help or
want to pick up a physical program like I'm holding
in my hand right now, it's nice to have the
paper in front of you. You can do that and
we can help you on site so there's no no limitation.
We will make sure you can get in.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Well, after twenty two years, you guys are getting pretty good.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
We're starting to learn, we're starting to become grown up,
starting to figure figure it out.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
That's awesome. I love it. It's just it's so exciting,
and it's one of those things. I'm a lifelong Wichitan,
so yeah, this is a very very strong point of
pride for me. And also I've enjoyed it so many
It's fun.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
I mean sometimes it really is.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Sometimes being a fun thing is a great way to
remind everyone that life is about a lot of different things,
including joy.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
So that's mooting joy.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
And you never know. You might think you're the only
person on the planet interested in this or that topic.
You'd be surprised.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
It's some really fine people that you It's such a
great aa. I love volunteering at film festivals because you
meet people that are your tribe, somebody who wants to
talk about movies as much as you do. You get
to meet filmmakers. Every time I go to a movie,
I'm like, I, I wonder how they did that. Well at
the festival you can actually ask that question and get
it answered, so it's just a great way to connect
with others.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
It is, and it's a great way to get out
of the house. Turn off the little tube, come watch
the big tube, the big screen, and immerse yourself with
some really fine cinema.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Melanie Addington, the executive director for Tall Grass Film Associations,
our guest today on Wichita Weekend. We'll take one more
break to kind of figure out where we are, who
we are, and what we want to say next, and
we'll be right back with you. This is whichd All Weekend.
Speaker 10 (17:48):
Community creates possibility. Grace Man was blessed to have and
Over Middle School volunteer to help us by assembling dental
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no cost dental clans and screenings to more than forty
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(18:10):
assemble eighteen thousand dental care kids in one morning. This
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You might think the Independent Living Resource Center is a
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(18:40):
community for twenty five years. Want to learn more about
what the Independent Living Resource Center really is, call nine
four to two sixty seven hundred.
Speaker 11 (18:49):
Each year, Arrowhead West is faced with the increased need
for services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in
our community. The Arrowhead West Endowment Association serves as a
source of funding and financial stability to ensure programs and services.
If you wish to donate a lasting gift that will
benefit persons with developmental disabilities, call Arrowhead West today. Your
(19:13):
choice will help change lives. For more information, log on
to Arrowheadwest dot org.
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(19:42):
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(20:04):
eight hundred two two seven two three four five anytime,
day or night. That's one eight hundred two two seven
twenty three forty five.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Welcome back to Wichita Weekend, and we're having a wonderful
conversation with our good friend Melanie Addington, the executive director
of Tallgrass Film Association. And Melanie, one thing we didn't
really touch on just yet is Tallgrass Film Festival is
more than just the movies.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Right right, Yeah, The festival part is important, and that
is our parties, which we're pretty famously known for. Yeah,
we've had Tom Middlestat for the past twenty two years
putting together some of the weirdest and most fun parties.
This year we have a partnership with Opera Kansas. They're
doing a pop up opera at our masquerade party on
(20:56):
Friday night, which is very fun. And then Saturday day
we're doing we're celebrating all zombie movies ever made with
a zombie Saturday, asking people to dress up.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Oh maybe if you don't.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
We have makeup artists on hand, we have tattoos. You
can come as a zombie or you can come as
a zombie fighter. There's fun activities. It is a wild,
fun time. So it's it's always worth it to either
buy a party ticket or a full badge and just
do the whole festival rather than just going to a movie.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Get the real experience.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Oh yeah, that's a Halloween hoot and a half. I'm
telling you.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Yeah, we knew going into the Halloween weekend we had
to do something, so we're stepping it up or really
really excited.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
So that'll be a fun time.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Now, I don't want you to give anything away, but
are you planning any kind of disguise yourself, any kind
of costume action? Maybe?
Speaker 3 (21:45):
I haven't decided. I've made my costume choices through Thursday.
Currently have to I.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Have to finish all of my rest of my costumes. Yeah,
we'll see, we'll see what happens.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
So like, how do we find out about all these
cool things happening?
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Yeah, play still on.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
The website teldresfilm dot org and then if you pick
up a print program and also has it in there.
So yeah, there's lots of ways. Now the other thing
on our website that's really important. If you're not into
being at a party, we still need help getting the
parties going, running them, cleaning them up, and so volunteering
is critical. We need hundreds and I do mean we
(22:21):
have a list of about three hundred and fifty volunteers.
Not everyone can help every year, well we need that many.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
To help every year.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
So we still have tons of volunteer opportunities through the weekend.
You could always check out, reach out to one of us,
and we'll put you to work. It's really it's a
great way to We love doing like the decor for
the parties or handing out food. There's a lot of
fun things to do. But also we need help even
on the ground doing like ushers so you scan people
in then you get to watch the movie. So it's
(22:49):
a great way to get in free or just even
just helping in our VIP lounge, getting to talk to filmmakers.
There's lots of great ways toolunteer, and it's a fun
volunteering opportunity.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
And even if you're hearing this right now, it's not
too late.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
It's not too late.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
All the way through Sunday about four pm, we'll still
need people.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Yeah, and who knows, if you got involved this year,
you might just get the bug and come back next year.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
It happens.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
We've had volunteers started year one and have never stopped.
They love it. So we definitely we try and keep
our volunteers fed happy, and then we honor them with
awards at the end. So we really we try and
treat them right.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Like I say, after twenty two years, you must be
doing something right.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
We're figuring it out.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Well. That is so exciting. Now, I gotta imagine after
this is a year round, three hundred and sixty five
year job, three hundred and sixty five day a year job.
That's for you, so you like the day after.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Next year already, I mean, I'm doing that now. The
other thing is especially now this year, having virtual run
through November third and having the award winners in person
at our Film center, then we really have another week
of the festival going.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
So we're still sort.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
Of on through November three, and then we have films
playing in our cinema starting the next weekend.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
So we just stay busy, we keep going.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Good for you, Yeah, good for you. It's good work
and it's.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
Well, it's about community really.
Speaker 4 (24:15):
I mean, yes, it's about watching movies, but we bring
together people.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Yeah, as you mentioned like that.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
You may think you're the only person in the world
that likes something and then you find out twenty other
people love it and you make new friends.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Well, I'll confess one this will be my last story
about past hall.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
No, I love your stories.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Well, when I was about ten or eleven years old,
I took guitar lessons and the lady's house that I
had guitar lessons at her name was Irma Wassel, and
she was just a wonderful, wonderful lady. I'll remember her forever.
But one of the students in that class was a
(24:54):
guy named Stuart Mossman.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
I know that name.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Stuart Mossman graduated the class. He was several years older
than me and went on to become a very distinguished
and well known guitar builder. And Tallgrass had the most
for a geek like me, for a true guitar geek.
(25:20):
This is the best thing I could ever seen. It
was the Stuart Mossmann story and they had it was
at Temple Life and on one of the floors up
above the theater they had a bunch of his Yeah, yeah,
built And I was in guitar geek Kevin and I
can I admit that to you? Oh?
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Absolutely? Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:40):
I mean Wichita's history of music is really important.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
And you know, we get people that come here for
the first time ever, have never been to Kansas at all,
never been to Wichita, and like highlighting these special things
about Wichita, like our music scene, the guitars, Haddie McDaniels,
you know, the David Parks and Gordon Parks. All these
things are so critical to like kind of show how
special it is.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yeah. So get to know your community a little bit better,
fall farther in love with Wichita. That's possible. Come on
out to the tall Grass Film Festival. Get all the
info a human could ever require at Tallgrassfilm dot org.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
That's it, yeah, or just at this point, we're there
all the time. If you want to come to the
Film Center and the lux on first Street. We'll just
answer your questions in person.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Okay, you can't beat that. Melanie Addington, executive director for
the Tallgrass Film Association. I could talk to you all day.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
I know, I love it. It's always fun.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Talk about movies and things we want.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
We'll just build in a new radio show for you.
We'll just do it.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I appreciate that. Thank you for the idea. It's my
next chapter. Yes, all right, Melanie, thanks so much for
being with us. Best of luck for a wonderful tall
Grass Film Festival twenty twenty four. It's Witched all weekend.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Thank you for listening to Wichita Weekend a service of
buyingheart radio stations. We'll ow two won the Bull, Channel
nine six, read all one O seven three and ninety
seven nine B ninety eight. Listen every Sunday for Wichita
Weekend
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